Much like other religions that emphasize moving to a “better place” after death, Muslims believe that their loved one has gone on to paradise, with their earthly woes now astern. But just as there are many sects of Christianity, so do different variations of Islam grieve, according to custom.
Funeralwise.com reports that a Muslim’s death should be announced immediately to all friends and relatives and the body washed and covered in white cotton. Within two days, the body is to be carried by four men to the graveyard, with a procession of family and friends following behind. Then, during a usually closed-casket ceremony, an imam will sit next to the casket and read from the Quran, with the body being interred so that it faces Mecca, the holiest site in Islam.
Socializing after the funeral is encouraged as a way to deal with grief over food and fellowship. The length of time for official mourning varies, but typically relatives grieve for three days, although a widow may do so for upwards of four months.